The Philosophy Of Osteopathy

 Any variation from the health has a cause, and the cause has a location.  It is the business of the osteopath to locate and remove it (the cause), doing away with disease and getting health instead.                                                                                                                                                                  

A.T. Still MD, DO, Founder of Osteopathy 

 

There are 4 principles central to the philosophy of Osteopathy:

  1. The structure of the tissue governs the function of the tissue
  2. Freedom of the body’s vessels to flow unobstructed is imperative to the proper functioning of the system
  3. Everything in the body is connected and inter-dependent.  A compromise or compensation in any part of the body will affect the whole.
  4. The body has the inherent ability to heal itself.  The goal of Osteopathy is to remove any barriers that will allow the body to express its maximal potential for self-healing.

Osteopathy is focused on finding dysfunction in the body and removing it using precise and intentional manual techniques.  The role of the Osteopathic Manual Therapist is to conduct a holistic assessment of the entire body – all systems – and determine the root cause of the dysfunction.  By addressing the root cause of a dysfunction, the body’s own natural healing mechanisms are able to express themselves and a patient can gain reach and maintain their maximal level of recovery.